Little Falls transcript., 1887-06-17
THE LOVE OF CALIBAN.

midsummer, and the purple-bordered
linens at the windows swayed in the
hot wind. There were purple border.
ed linens, too, on the couch where the
Lady Eucrece lay-one can not do
much at noontide in Pisa when it is
midsummer. The heavens seemed to
bang down near to the languorous
ea'th; palpitant white heat SHIN.
mered on the streets; the lazaroni
slept; at the lighthouses the attend.
ants went about in shifts OF linen; the
shops and the stores were silent; it
was too hot even to hate. If one had
vengeance to take he waited till
nightfall, when it should be cooler.
And the Lady Lucrece, fragrant from
her bath, lay on her couch amid the
fresh linens, and sprinkled powder on
her breasts to keep the moisture from
gathering there.
AS the long day wasted itself in
languid hours the lady smiled, al.
though it was not her wont.
CHOW many hours till rnoonlight?" m
she asked Of her maid.
"Six and more, gracious MISTRESS u
replied the maid, dsowsily; and she
wiped her forehead upon her sleeve.
"Ah," sighed the Lady Lucrece,
"bring in Massimiliani."
A M oment later aqueer, halting step
was heard On the tiled floor in the
hall outside. The curtains at the
door were the green which the sea
wears in the morning. They parted,
and Massimiliani stood between them.
Had nature had her way he would
have been TALL but some mysterious
force had bent him almost double, and
his bumped shoulders and heavy
head hung always toward the earth.
He Was not merely grotesque, he was
hideous. There are men that nature
has jested with; Massimiliani she had
cursed. He made q salutation with
his hands-he could bend no lower.
II am forever bowing," he said to his
mistress. "My grace was SO great the
first time had occasion to make a
salute to lady. that l never was al
lowed to rise"
"Who was the lady," queried his
mistress, shutting her eyes as he
stood before her.
'"The only woman with whom shall
ever lie-Mother Earth" EIe looked
straight down at Lady Lucrece. She
did not cover her bosom-why should
she for Massimiliani?-no one counted
him a man. He was as free to come
and 60 as the spaniel that lay upon
the rugs.
II do not want gibes this after
noon," said his mistress. Massimili-
ami spread out his huge dark hands
and smiled.
Then hen my, gracious lady did not
"send foryou? Yes, Isent for your"
"lt cannot be. You have forgotten.
Fer what am | but gibe? 1t can
not be q question Of wisdom, or it
would not lie between woman and
fool. Perhaps it was a matter OF
grace, and you want me to dance, or
a matter OF beauty, and you wish me
to smile, or a question OF sweet
sounds, and you wish me 60 sing"
The Lady Lucrece sat up and put
the damp hair back from her brow.
81 had sooner hear a chorus of ra-
vens," she said, but she laughed as
she said it. No one minded Massimili-
ami, and she pulled at the end of his
long, hanging sleeve to make him
squat upon the floor by her. feet,
which he did with mocking gesture.
"Princes have been here before me, !"
said he.
The lady looked naughty, but she
was not ill-pleased.
at does not relate to singing" said
she.
Massimiliani leaped to his feet and
seized some roses that lay at the foot
OF the couch.
"The howers" he cried, and flung
them from the easement.
His mistress stared at him in amaze
ment.
"From the Lord Ascanio," she re-.
piled mechanically.
'Ihere was a tarantula among
them. Are you so good, madam, that
your lovers must send you to heaven?"
"Fool!" cried the lady, angrily,
"there was no tarantula among the
roses"
Massimiliani sat down ag;vin upon
the floor.
"Go on with your tale" said he, II
am no greater iool than l was before" !"
The Lady Lucrece sat pondering,
with her elbows on her knees, and her
flushed cheek in her hands.
"Fool," said the Lady Lucrece, and
her breath came faster, 'you have
not heard, have you-"
"God gave me straight ears, the
saints be thanked" the jester sardon-
ically interrupted.
Might after night, since the
summer came, a voice below my win
dow? Railways comes when the shad-
ow OF the balcony hides his figure"
'"Ihat he may not see your lace, If
you lean out, and SO lose his inspira-
tlon?' inter- iected the dwarf. The
lady struck him on ths ear with her
jeweled hand. The blow was light, but
the dwarf shivered. ''The voice"
said he, "what was it like?" Thelady
fell back again into her old attitude.
The flowing sleeves dropped from her
arms. The loose strings OF pearls
with which they were wreathed, tum-
bled down to her elbows. Massimilianl
spread himself fat upon the aoor, and
bracine his heavy head against his
hands, watched her as a tiger does his
prey. 49,. ~
''Ah, fool! think you know / never
loved. Men are so little, could rule
them all; do not want q man that
can rule. But his voice-it sings
OF war, of great deeds, terrible
and grand. And yet, Massimiliani. it
sings OF love-of love which counts
power, and money, and name as moth